DEIANEIRA

ΔΗΙΑΝΕΙΡΑ

1. A daughter of Althaea by Oeneus, Dionysus, or Dexamenus (Apollod. i. 8. § 1; Hygin. Fab. 31, 33), and a sister of Meleager. When Meleager died, his sisters lamented his death at his grave; Artemis in her anger touched them with her staff, and changed them into birds, with the exception of Deianeira and Gorge, who were allowed, by the solicitation of Dionysus, to retain their human forms. (Antonin. Lib. 2.) Subsequently Achelous and Heracles, who both loved Deïaneira, fought for the possession of her. She became the wife of Heracles, and afterwards unwittingly caused his death, whereupon she hung herself. (Apollod. ii. 7. § 5, 6. § 7; Diod. iv. 34, &c.; comp. ACHELOUS; HERACLES; DEXAMENUS.)